Illuminated fiery cross



Feb. 3, 1925.

P. J. MATTERN ET AL ILLUMTNATED FIERY CROSS Filed April 26, 1924gwoentoz 'JMaZZerw &- fiaroldjvwaller- Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP J. MATTERN AND HAROLD N. XVALKER, OF OELWEIN, IOWA.

ILLUMINATED FIERY CROSS.

Application filed April 26, 1924 Serial No. 709,275.

T (11 Z 7mm it may concern Be it known that we, Pnrrre J MATTERN andHAnoLi) N. WALKER, citizens of the United States, residing at ()elwein,in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Illuminated Fiery Crosses; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in elongated lamp boxes, andmore particularly to an elongated cross, which will be so constructedthat it may be readily folded and transported from place to placewhereever the same is to be used.

An object of the invention is to provide an elongated lamp box in theshape of a cross, which will be provided with a convex specially coloredplate glass front, behind which are mounted a number of electric lightbulbs suitably supported in elongated concave reflectors, whereby thecross will produce a flaming effect and appear to the beholder a flamingcross when the electric lights are lit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated cross forlod 'e purposes, and more particularly for Ku- Klux Klan meetings, whichwill not only be provided with a plurality of electric light bulbssupported in reflectors, but will also be provided with an automaticflag raising device, which will be positioned to the rear of saidlights, but which will be encased within the body of said cross.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of our application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved illuminated fiery cross.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken 011 the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure1.

Figure 4: is a perspective view of the protecting cover for the cross,and

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the flag raising mechanism positioned inthe back of the cross.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings to designate correspondingparts.

Our improved elongated cross comprises a vertically extending hollow boxor arm 1, and a pair oi laterally extending hollow boxes or arms 2,which are hinged at 3 to the said vertically extending arm 1, so thatthe said laterally extending arms may be folded up against the side ofthe arm 1 to make the cross more easy to transport from place to place.

The lower end of the arm Figure 1 is adapted to be suitably supported bya base or standard 1, and to be held therein by means of the bolt 5.

Concave reflectors 6 are positioned within the vertical and laterallyextending arms and support a plurality of electric light bulbs 7 whichare connected in any suitable manner to a source of electrical energy.

The forward or front portion of the arms 1 and 2 are closed by theconvex colored plate glass strips 8, so that when the electric lightbulbs are illuminated the combined offeet of the concave reflectors andconvex colored glass strips will make the cross appear to produce aflaming eilect. No. 9 is a door on back of arms 2 which hinges at 10,and is adapted normally to be closed. A cover or door 11 is hinged at 12to close the back of the cross, and is adapted to normally be heldclosed.

The cross is protected by means of a heavy sheet metal cross shapedcover 13, which is of approximately the same size as the arms 1 and 2,and is adapted to snugly flt over the same so that the plate glassstrips will not be injured.

The upper end of the arm 1 is provided with a removable cover 1 1 and isheld in place by means of the fasteners 15, and is further provided withone or more ventilation openings 16. An automatic flag raising mechanismis positioned in the rear of the arm 1 and adjacent the top andcomprises a flag 17 and staff 18, which extend through the guides 19 andcarries at its lower end a suitable head 20 which has attached theretothe cables 21 and weights 22. These cables are adapted to extend overpulleys 23, mounted in the back of the arm 1 in such a manner that whenthe door 24 is opened, the weights will drop, thereby projecting thestafl? 18 of the flag 17 upwardly so that the flag will appear at thetop of the cross.

We claimi 1. Anilluminatedfiery cross for'lodge purposes, c-omprisingacross-shaped'lainp bok, having a vertical arm and a pair of laterallyextending arms hinged thereto, reflectors positioned in saicrarms;electric light bulbs carried by said. reflectors, and convex coloredplate glass strips adapted to close the forward portion of said'arms.

2. An illuminated fiery cross for lodge purposes comprising a crossshaped lamp box and w vertically extending hollowarm and a, pair oflaterally extending' hollo-w arms hinged thereto, concave reflectorspositioned in saiderrns, a plurality of electric 15 held closed; andmeans at the lower end of 20 said cross for supporting the'same upon apole or a suitable flat surface.

In testimony whereof we a-fiix our slgnat-ures.

PHILIP J. MATTERN. HAROLD N. 'WALKER;

